Apparatus for making thermoplastic handle bags

ABSTRACT

This application discloses a bag machine adapted to form handle bags from a thermoplastic web material. The handle bags are made with a reinforced mouth comprising two or more layers of web which are of sufficient width so that hand receiving cut-outs can be formed therein. A bat of this form can be securely and easily grasped by one hand and the multi-layered web provides sufficient strength to prevent tearing of the bag about the cut-outs.

United States Patent 91 Stock 7 APPARATUS FOR MAKING THERMOPLASTIC HANDLE BAGS [75] Inventor: David K. Stock, Green Bay, Wis.

[73] Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif.

[22] Filed: April 8,1970

[21] Appl. No.: 26,483

[52] US. Cl. ..'......93/33, 93/35 H, 93/58 P, 93/93 C, 156/515 [51] -Int. Cl. ..B3lb 1/14, B31b 1/86, B32b 31/00 [58] Field of Search ..93/8, 33, 35 H, 58 P, 59 MT, 93/36 A, 93 C; 156/515, 512, 204, 250, 269

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,355,996 12/1967 Medleycott ..93/33 H 3,440,124 4/1969 Schwarzkopf.... ..93/35 H 3,517,410 6/1970 Rapisarda ..93/58 P 3,431,828 3/1969 Crawford ..93/93 C 1March 13, 1973 3,460,441 8/1969 Davis ..93/36 A 3,568,576 3/1971 Lemacher ..93/35 H 3,663,338 5/1972 Wech ..156/515 3,493,456 2/1970 Vilutis ..156/515 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Att0rneyF. W. Anderson, C. E. Tripp and L. J. Pizzanelli [57] ABSTRACT This application discloses a bag machine adapted to form handle bags from a thermoplastic web material. The handle bags are made with a reinforced mouth comprising two or more layers of web which are of sufficient width so that hand receiving cut-outs can be formed therein. A bat of this form can be securely and easily grasped by one hand and the multi-layered web provides sufficient strength to prevent tearing of the bag about the cut-outs.

11 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 1 3197s SHEET 10F 6 INVENTOR. DAVID K STOCK APPARATUS FOR MAKING THERMOPLASTIC HANDLE BAGS Presently available bag machines for making handle bags of the nature disclosed herein provide web forming apparatus for making a multi-layered skirt in each main panel of the bag. The skirt can be of any desired width determined by the strength required and the size of the hand-receiving cut-out. To provide increased strength to the bag skirt, welds, of any desired configuration, are made attaching the skirts to the underlying bag panel. It is usual practice to provide an operational sequence where the cut-outs are made first and then welds are made in the skirt. In providing distinct apparatus to make the cut-outs and then make the weld pattern in the skirts, threading of film through the machine is more difficult and more space is required on the attachment rails'of the bag machine. Further by providing separate apparatus for making the cut-outs and the welds in the skirt, separatedrives must be provided for each of these apparatus from the main drive of the bag machine. Mechanically this design is complicated and accordingly the risk of timing failures and drive failures is substantially increased.

Handle bag making apparatus is also designed so that the seal bars for making the seals in the skirts of the bag reciprocate. Since the seal bars are heated by electrical resistance heaters they are typically connected to the electrical circuit by flexible conductors, such as braided wires, to allow reciprocation of the seal bars and yet maintain an electrical connection to the heater circuit. It oftentimes happens that the flexible electrical conductors become fatigued by the continual flexing in response to the reciprocation of the seal bars. The conductors accordingly break under these conditions.

According to the present invention the seal bars for making the welds in the skirt of the handle bag are rigidly mounted thus avoiding the use of flexible electrical conductors which obviate the possibility of breakdown as explained above.

It is another feature of the present invention to mount the handle bag making apparatus so hat it can be displaced away from the path of the web .to an inoperative position when bag machine production is' interrupted for a period of time greater than one machine cycle. In the absence of such an arrangement the film would be damaged by the heated seal bars due to the increased time exposure of the film to the heated seal bars. Further benefits attained by such an arrangement are that maintenance, such as cleaning of the seal bars, and replacement of the seal bars is facilitated.

It is usual practice to provide a teflon glass cloth covering for sea] bars to prevent sticking and buildup of web material on the seal bars. Providing teflon glass cloth requires suitable devices for holding the cloth to the seal bar structure. Contrary to this practice this invention provides a coating for the seal bars having appropriate release properties that prevent sticking and buildup of web material on the seal bars. By obviating the use of teflon glass cloth it is possible to operate the seal bars at a lower temperature, because with use of the teflon glass cloth a temperature drop of approximately 75 is experienced.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a unique drive to the platens which form the seals and the cut-outs in the skirt of the bag. As mentioned above the usual handle bag making apparatus is designed with separate mechanisms for forming the cut-outs and the seal pattern in the bag lip or skirt. Separate drives are also provided to operate the cut-out dies and the seal bar structure in unison with the intermittent motion of the web. Each of the separate mechanisms, viz., cut-out dies and seal bar structures, perform their functions simultaneously on each of the opposed lip portions of the bag. To illustrate, the lip portion associated with each main panel of the bag have the cut-outs formed by simultaneously operating platens reciprocating toward and away from each other. The platens carry male dies that cooperate with a stationary female die located between and equidistant from the male dies. The drive for each platen includes a cam, a cam follower, a spring and a cam follower yoke and push rod.

According to the present invention reciprocating motion of the above described nature of each platen is accomplished by providing a single cam, a follower, a

spring and a cam follower yoke and push rod. The opposed reciprocating motion to the upper and lower platens is transmitted by use of a pivoted rocking beam, the details of which will be explained hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic central longitudinal section of a bag machine incorporating the handle bag making apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of a folded thermoplastic web showing a single fold lip or skirt.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 showing a double fold lip which provides three web layers.

FIG. 4 is a perspective of a completed handle bag which has the hand cutout partially severed.

FIG. 4A shows one manner in which the hand receiving cut-out may be made so that the partially cut web lip is retained with the bag.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective of a completed handle bag with the hand cut-out completely removed.

FIG. 5A shows another manner in which the partially cut web lip can be retained with the bag.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse section, taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 1, with parts broken away.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary portion of FIG. 6 showing a different relationship of certain parts of the platen drive.

FIG. 8 is a section of FIG. 6 taken along the line 8- 8.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary portion of FIG. 8 showing a piston, for interrupting operation of the platens, actuated.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of the handle bag making mechanism taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a section, taken along the line 11-11, of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a horizontal section, taken along the line 12-l2 ofFIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentaryportion of FIG. 6 with parts broken away.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the seal bars and platens taken along line 1414 of FIG. 11 and showing the relationship of parts before the platens are reciprocated toward each other.

FIG. is similar to FIG. 14 showing the operation whereby the line seals and the cut-out are made.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a bag machine, generally indicated by the numeral 20, having operatively mounted thereon the handle bag making apparatus of the present invention. Briefly the bag machine comprises a base plate 22 supporting a plurality of upwardly extending transversely aligned side plates 24a, 24b and 240 which provide support for the web handling mechanisms of the bag machine. Attachment rails 25 are secured to the side plates 24a and 2417. At one end of the bag machine a web roll WR is mounted on a shaft 26 which in turn is rotatably carried by cantilevered supports 28 (only one of which appears in FIG. 1). The web roll WR contains what is known in the industry as even edged J stock, meaning, that the web roll contains film which is folded along its longitudinal median. It is however recognized by those familiar with bag making machinery that unfolded or rolled stock can be utilized with a triangular folding board which in effect continually produces even edged or lipped stock.

The web from the web roll WR is directed to a lip folding apparatus 30 which comprises sets of creasing rolls 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d and various web folding devices, which are not shown as they do not form part of the present invention. The web is first received between creasing rolls 32a then the rolls 32b, 32c and 32d in that order. The folding apparatus can be arranged to fold the web ends WE to produce a single fold and thus provide two web layers in the bag lip or skirt, (also sometimes referred to as a band) as shown in FIG. 2, or it can be arranged to make a double fold thereby providing three web layers in the bag lip as shown in FIG. 3. After the web ends have been folded the web is directed to a pair of draw rolls 34 and then is threaded in a zigzag fashion through a web accumulating and tensioning control apparatus 36. The web then continues from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 1, and is operated upon by handle bag making mechanism 38 which is the subject matter of the present invention. The mechanism 38 is supported by the rails 25. The web then passes between a pair of draw rolls 40 and it is fed through a reciprocating seal bar structure 42 under which is mounted an intermittently rotating anvil or seal roll 44. The bag machine drive is designed to intermittently feed the web a distance equal to the bag width, generally known as the draw length.

During the period of time that the web is at rest the seal bar 42 is moved downwardly in pressure engagement with the anvil or seal roll 44 which at that instant of time is not rotating. When the seal bar 42 establishes pressure engagement with the seal roll 44 the folded web is transversely welded and severed. The bag produced is transported to a stacking table 46 by belts 48. The stacking table 46 is disposed at a slight incline and supported in this position by struts 50.

The handle bag making mechanism 38 is operated in timed relation with the drive train of the bag machine by a belt 52 trained about a pulley 54, which is attached to a shaft of the bag machine drive and a pulley 56 fixed to a shaft 58 rotatably supported by the bag machine frame. As will be explained hereinafter the handle bag making apparatus 38 performs its function on each folded lip of the web during that increment of time that the seal bar 42 transversely severs and seals the web.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown an enlarged side elevation partly in section of the handle bag making apparatus 38. As will be explained in detail hereinafter, the handle bag making attachment 38 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a unique drive which reciprocates both platens toward and away from the film lips simultaneously and it is provided with means for removing the slug of film defining the cut-outs. Moreover the mechanism is designed so that the seal bar structure can be pivoted at least 90 removing it from the path of the web whenever the bag machine is shut down or stopped for any period of time greater than one bag making cycle.

As viewed in FIG. 6 the lefthand side rail 25 has mounted thereon a depending plate 60 which rotatably supports one end of the shaft 58 and the other, or righthand side rail 25, also mounts a depending side plate 62 having a journal 64 which rotatably supports the shaft 58. The handle bag making mechanism 38 is supported on parallel, transversely extending, guides 65 and 66 having slidably mounted therebetween, by means of rollers 68, a box like housing 70, suitably supporting slidable plungers 72 and 74 which contribute to cause reciprocation, respectively, of an upper platen 76 and a lower platen 78. Secured to the housing are two generally triangular plates 80 and 82 which mount one pair of the rollers 68. A locking mechanism 84 is provided for securing the handle bag making mechanism 38 transversely in a direction relative to the direction of film movement so that the handle bag making mechanism can be positioned properly with respect to the folded lips of the web.

The locking mechanism 84 comprises an elongate rod 86 having a knurled knob 88 pinned on one end thereof. The rod 86 extends through a clearance hole formed in a cross bar 90 which has its ends rigidly attached to the triangular plates 80 and 82. The lower end of the rod 86 is threaded into a transverse clamp bar 92, and as shown in FIG. 8, the clamp bar extends beyond the lateral guide rails 66 and 64. On each end of the clamp bar 92 small pins 94 are secured for the purpose of preventing the rotation of the clamp bar 92 when the rod 86 is turned for either tightening or loosening the clamp bar 92.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention the drive for simultaneously reciprocating the platens 76 and 78 toward and away from each other is accomplished by use of a single cam which reciprocates the plunger 72 and this motion is transmitted to the plunger 74. Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 it will be observed that a cam 94 is rigidly mounted to the shaft 58 by a dog 96 keyed to the shaft 58. The outer surface of the cam makes contact with a roller 98 which is rotatably mounted, by means of a pin 100, to a bifurcated portion 102 on the lower end of the plunger 72. Those portions of the plungers 72 and 74 interiorly of the housing 70 carry pairs of rollers 104 and 106 associated, respectively, with the plunger 72 and the plunger 74. As shown in FIG. 8, the plunger 72 has diametrically opposed flats 108 formed thereon and a shaft 110 extending through that portion of the plunger 72 having the flats 108. The shaft 110 rotatably supports rollers 104 and on an extended portion thereof there is rotatably mounted a T shaped nylon block 112 slidably mounted in a slot 114 (see FIG. 13). In like manner a shaft 110a rotatably supports the rollers 106 on plunger 74. A nylon T block 112a is mounted on the end of the shaft 110a and is fitted to slide in a similar slot 114. Reference to FIG. 13 will show the nylon blocks 112 and 112a in the slots 114.

Pressure engagement of the cam roller 98 (FIG. 6) with the cam 94 is achieved by a compression spring 116 having one end bearing against the lower end of the plunger 74 and the other end received in a bore 1 18 of a structure generally identified by the numeral 120. The structure 120 is attached to the lower surface of the housing 70 and, as shown in FIG. 8, is formed with a plurality of webs 122. The housing has a depending portion bored at 123 for reception of the outer race of a bearing 124. As shown in FIG. 6 the inner race of the bearing is secured to a hub 126 of the cam 94.

Still referring to FIG. 6, motion transferring levers 128 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 130 extending through a web 132 of the housing 70. The levers 128 are retained on the shaft 130 by collars 134. The single cam drive operating the two platens 76 and 78 operate in the following manner: When the shaft 58 is rotated by the belt 52 trained about the pulley 56, the cam 94 is rotated. When that portion of the cam surface closest to the center of rotation is encountered by the roller 98 the plunger 72 reciprocates downwardly while at the same time the plunger 74 is reciprocated upwardly by virtueof the force supplied by the spring 116 bringing the platens in engagement with the folded lips of the web. In encountering the rise of the cam 94 the plunger 72 is displaced upwardly and, by virtue of the levers 128, the plunger 74 is moved downwardly against the bias supplied by the spring 116 releasing the platens 76 and 78 from the folded lips of the web.

' The plunger 72 is connected to the platen 76 by having its upper end slidably received in a bore 127 formed in the platen 76. The bore 127 is longitudinally slotted at 129 and the bore diameter is reduced by providing clamping bolts 131 which when tightened shrink the bore 127 thus firmly engaging the plunger 72. To adjust the pressure with which the platen 76 imposes on the upper lip UL of the web, a bolt 136 is disposed through a clearance hole in a rectangular plate 138 (see FIG. and threaded into a tapped hole in the upper end of the plunger 72. The bolt 136 is fitted with a threaded washer 137 serving to prevent axial movement of the bolt 136 when it is turned. With the clamp bolts 131 loosened, increasing the pressure of the platen 76 takes place when the bolt 136 is turned to raise the plunger 72. The desired pressure is retained by tightening the clamp bolts 131.

In a generally similar way, the lower platen 78 is provided with pressure adjustment means. The plunger 74, as shown in FIG. 11, is received within a bore 148 formed in a depending portion 150 of the lower platen 78. The depending portion 150 is provided with a longitudinal slot 152, which, together with bolts 154, constitute a clamp which firmly holds the upper end of the plunger 74 in the bore 148. Mounted slightly below the depending portion 150 is a small rectangular plate 156 bored to receive the plunger 74 and also slotted to define a clamp. For clamping the rectangular plate 156 to the plunger 74 a bolt 158 is provided. The plate 156 has a screw I60 passing therethrough and threaded into a bore 162 provided in the depending portion 150. The screw is also provided with a lock nut 164 which when tightened prevents rotation of the screw. To adjust the pressure of the lower platen 78 the clamp bolts 154 are loosened permitting the plunger to slide in the bore 148. Increasing pressure is attained by turning the screw so that the platen 78 is raised. Then the clamp bolts 154 are tightened firmly clamping the end of the plunger 74 in its adjusted position.

According to an important feature of the present invention the seal bars for making the aligned seals in the folded lips of the web are mounted so that they can be displaced laterally away from the web path whenever machine operation is interrupted for more than one bag making cycle. Further the seal bar structure remains stationary during normal operation thus simplifying and making more reliable the wiring for the seal bar heating elements. Referring first to FIG. 6 it will be seen that a generally inverted L shaped member 166 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 70 and is formed with an enlarged boss 168 bored for rotatably receiving a short stub shaft 170 (FIG. 10). As best shown in FIG. 10, the shaft 170 has a bracket 172 rigidly clamped thereon and on its upper portion a spur gear 174 is keyed thereto in overlying relationship to the bracket 172, as shown in FIG. 6. The bracket 172 has a vertically extending web portion 176 to which is attached, by means of spacers 178, a unitary seal bar and cut-out die mechanism generally indicated by the number 180. The elongate spacers 178 are rigidly attached to the vertical web 176 by screws 182 which extend through the spacers 178 and are threaded into one of the seal bars of the seal bar structure 180.

To cause rotation of the seal bar structure out of the path of the web, a power cylinder 184, either hydraulic or pneumatic, is mounted on a plate 186 by a small angle bracket 188. A projecting rod portion of the cylinder 184 is suitable rigidly secured to a rack 190 which meshes with the gear 174. When the stop button of the bag machine is depressed the head end of the cylinder 184 makes communication with a fluid under pressure, moving the rack 190 to the left as shown in FIG. 12 to occupy the phantom outline position. This action of course causes rotation of the shaft 170 by virtue of the fact that the spur gear 174 is rigidly attached thereto and concurrent therewith the bracket 172 assumes the phantom outline position and obviously carries the seal bar and cut-out mechanism 180 therewith since they are rigidly connected to the bracket by the screws 182. In the event the bag machine is interrupted for one or more cycles the bracket 172 and seal bar and cut-out mechanism 180 could be pivoted to the phantom outline position.

In describing the arrangement of the seal bars and the cut-out mechanism reference is made to FIGS. 11 and 12. Referring first to FIG. 12 it will be observed that two elongate seal bars 192 and 194 are provided and they are laterally spaced by a pair of blocks 196 secured therebetween by screw fasteners. Conventional tubular electrical heaters 192a and 194a are mounted in the seal bars 192 and 194 respectively, to heat the seal bars to the temperature necessary to firmly seal that portion of the web contacted by the seal bars. Located in the space between the seal bars is the cutting die 198 which is rigidly fixed in place between the seal bars by a plurality of screws 200 which extend through clearance holes in the seal bars 192 and 194 and threadedly engage tapped holes in the cutting die 198. FIG. 11 shows the cutting dies 198 in cross section where it will be observed that there are upper and lower cutting dies 198. The dies are preferably formed with sloping interior walls to define cutting edges 202. It will be noted that one of the cutting edges 202 faces upwardly and the other one faces downwardly in order to simultaneously produce aligned cut-outs in opposed longitudinal portions of the web W since it is separated, as shown in FIG. 6, as it passes through the handle bag mechanism.

In order to guard against sticking of the folded web bands or lips to the cut-out dies 198 or the seal bars 192 and 194, and to provide for separation of the folded lips of the web, resiliently mounted upper and lower stripper plates 204 and 206, respectively, are mounted between the upper and lower platens 76 and 78. The stripper plates are formed with bent end portions 207 to prevent tearing or interference of any nature to the moving web. Referring to FIG. it will be seen that stripper plate support bars 208, generally rectangular in form, are mounted on the plate 186. Each of these support bars 208 are identical in form and function and accordingly description of one will suffice for both. The support bars 208 are situated so that no interference is encountered by the seal bar and cut-out mechanism 180 when it is positioned to its inactive location as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 12.

The support bars 208 are shown in enlarged scale in FIGS 14 and 15. Referring to FIG. 14 it will be seen that the support bar 208 comprises a cantilevered portion of reduced thickness 210 in which are formed a plurality of clearance holes through which are fitted outboard bolts 212a and inboard bolts 212b. Each bolt has a compression spring 214 fitted thereon and the ends of the outboard bolts 212a are attached, either welded orthreaded, to the lower stripper plate 206 while the inboard bolts 212b are attached to the upper stripper plate 204.

The stripper plates 204 and 206, as shown best in FIGS. 12 and 14 are formed with elongate slots 216 which permit the rounded nose portions 218 of the seal bars to project through the stripper plates and make firm engagement with the surface of the platens 76 and 78 to thereby make the line seals in the folded lips of the web. Each of the stripper plates 204 and 206 are also provided with a clearance opening 220 so that the cutting die 198 can pass by the stripper plates 204 and 206 in order to remove a slug of material from the folded lips of the web to provide the hand grasping cutouts l-I. Stripper plates 204 and 206 could also be rigidly connected to the platens 76 and 78 for reciprocation with the platens.

The disclosed handle bag making apparatus of the present invention is associated with a bag machine having an interrupt circuit which interrupts the bag making operation for one or more bag making cycles at the end of a predetermined bag count to enable the operator to remove a stack of bags from the stacking table 46. A bag machine having this feature is disclosed in US. application, Ser. No. 787,767 filed Dec. 3, 1968 and application, Ser. No. 821,754 filed May 5, I969 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Reference to these applications, which are included herein by reference will reveal that when the bag counting mechanism has reached the end of a count, operation is interrupted for one or more complete cycles. During this time the seal bar 42 and the draw rolls 40 are rendered inoperative. It is necessary therefore to provide a similar arrangement for the handle bag making mechanism 38 to thereby prevent reciprocation of the platens 76 and 78 for one or more bag making cycles. To achieve this result means are provided for preventing reciprocation of the platens 76 and 78. Such means are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

On the top wall 221 of the lower platen structure 78, a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 222 is mounted, by means of a nut 224, threaded on a stud 226 integral with the cylinder. The cylinder has the usual projecting rod 228 (FIG. 9) on the end of which is coupled a dowel pin 230 which is aligned with a clearance hole 232 formed in the rectangular plate 138. At such time that the bag machine's control circuit calls for interrupt cycle, pressure fluid is admitted to the head end of the cylinder 222 extending the rod 228 (FIG. 9) so that a large nut 234 makes abutting engagement with the lower surface of the plate 138 constraining the platens 76 and 78 to remain in their retracted positions. FIG. 9 shows the piston rod 228 extended and the nut 234 in contact with the plate 138 therein.

When the cylinder 222 has its rod extended, the cam roller 98, on the lower end of the push rod 72, does not make contact with that portion of the surface of the cam 94 having the lesser radius. Thus the cylinder 222 holds the push rod 72 from reciprocating.

At the end of the interrupt cycle pressure fluid from the head end of the piston 222 is exhausted, retracting the rod 228 and accordingly conditioning the handle bag making apparatus to resume its normal operation.

In describing the operation of the handle bag making mechanism 38 insofar as it relates to the action of the platens 76 and 78 in making the aligned seal and the cut-outs in the web lips reference will be made to FIGS. 14 and 15. Referring first to FIG. 14 the platens 76 and 78 are illustrated in their retracted position. The folded lips of the web W, the upper lip UL and the lower lip LL, respectively, overlie and underlie the stripper plates 204 and 206. With the platens 76 and 78 retracted the springs 214 on the inboard and outboard bolts 212a and 212b locate the stripper plates beyond the working surfaces of the seal bars 192 and 194 and beyond the cutting die 198. When the platens 76 and 78 are actuated toward each other the web lips UL and LL are pressed against the stripper plates 204 and 206 and continued movement of the platens 76 and 78 toward each other compresses the springs 214 moving the stripper plates 204 and 206 toward each other. This movement continues until the rounded nose portion 218 of the seal bars 192 and 194 press the upper and lower lips of the web against. silicone strips 240 on the working surfaces of the platens to produce pairs of line seal LS, shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5. While the line seals are being made the cutting die 198 severs a web portion, commonly referred to as a slug, from the folded web lips.

The handle bag making mechanism 38 is provided with means for disposing of the slug of web removed by the cutting die 198. Reference to FIGS. 6, l4 and 15 will show that the upper and lower platens 76 and 78 are formed with passages attached to conduits which are connectable to a vacuum pump. Referring first to FIG. 6 it shows the upper platen 76 having a bore 241 in which is fitted an elbow 243. A hose 245 is attached, by means of a clamp 247 to one end of the elbow. The bore 241 communicates with an elongate passageway 249 (FIG. 1 1) which is approximately as long as the die 198. The lower platen 78 is bored at 251 (FIGS. 6 and 11) and an elbow 253 is mounted therein. A hose 255 is connected to the elbow 253. The lower platen is also provided with an elongate passageway 257 approximately as long as the die 198.

Each of the hoses 245 and 255 are connected to a suitable vacuum pump (not shown). At such time when the platens 76 and 78 make pressure engagement with the seal bars 192 and 194, and the die 198, making the line seals and the handle cut-outs, the removed web portions are drawn through the passageways and along the hoses 245 and 255 directing slugs S1 and S2 to a suitable waste container (not shown). FIG. 15 shows the slugs S1 and S2 in the process of being conveyed to a waste container.

Reference is made to FIGS. 14 and 15 in describing the action of the platens 76 and 78. Before'the platens 76 and 78 are moved toward each other they are located as shown in FIG. 14. It will be noted that the web lips UL and LL are in contact with the stripper plates 204 and 206. When the platens 76 and 78 are moved toward each other the web lips are pressed against the stripper plates 204 and 206 by the force supplied by the springs 214. The plungers 76 and 78 continue moving toward each other until the nose portions 218 of the seal bars firmly press into the web lip to make the line seals LS (FIGS. 4 and while the dies 198 produce the handle cut-outs H. Slugs S1 and S2 are concurrently removed from the lips and are drawn through passageways 249 and 257 for delivery to a waste collection device. After the web lips UL and LL are released by the platens 76 and' 78, returning to the position shown in FIG. 14, that portion of the web istransported one bag length by the draw rolls 40.

FIGS. 4A and 5A illustrate various styles of cut-outs which retain the slugs by small tabs T. To produce the style of FIG. 4A, the cutting edges 202 of the dies 198 are also ground along the dotted line 260 so that the web lips are not penetrated along this line, and ground to produce the tabs T1. The style of FIG. 5A is made by grinding the cutting edges 202 to produce tabs T2. The major advantage in retaining the slug, during bag production, is that making a registered stack on the table 46 is facilitated. By retaining the slug the tendency of projecting edges encountering the edges of another bag is obviated on the stacking table 46. If such a condition occurs the bags become skewed, requiring the operator to manipulate the bags in registry.

The bag style shown in FIG. 4 also retains the slugs. As in the case of the style shown in FIG. 4A, the arcuate ends 270 of the cut-out and one of the straight lines 272, extending to and between the arcuate ends, is cut while no cut is made along a line 274, parallel to line 272. The remaining slugs serve the purpose of locking the bag mouth when the slug of one bag panel is passed through the cut-out of the other bag panel. This also provides a more comfortable grip.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for making handle bags from a thermoplastic web which is folded along its longitudinal median so that the margins of the web are even, said apparatus comprising means for folding each of the web margins to produce a lip having at least two web layers, and means for simultaneously making aligned cut-outs and a plurality of line seals in each lip, said seals running longitudinally of the cut-outs and straddling the cut-outs, and means for transversely severing and sealing the web to complete the bag.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for making the cut-outs and line seals comprises platens reciprocable toward and away from each other, means directly actuating one of the platens for reciprocation, and means responsive to the reciprocation of said one platen for reciprocating the other platen.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for reciprocating said other platen comprises centrally pivotally mounted rocker arms, a slidably mounted plunger connected to said one platen, a slidably mounted plunger connected to said other platen, and means on said plungers engageable with said rocker arms to cause rocking of said arms when said plunger of said one platen is reciprocated which causes concurrent oppositely directed reciprocation of said plunger of said other platen.

4. An apparatus for simultaneously making handreceiving cut-outs and line seals in a web folded along its longitudinal median and having each of its ends folded to produce a multi-layered band; said apparatus comprising means for laterally separating and supporting longitudinal portions of said bands; stationary sealing and cutting means located between said separating and supporting means; platens, mounted for reciprocation toward and away from each other, for firmly pressing the separated bands in contact with said sealing and cutting means to make reinforcing line seals and the hand-receiving cut-outs in each of the separated bands.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said separating means comprises generally rectangular plates, said plates being mounted for limited movement toward and away from each other, slots in said plates providing clearance openings for said sealing and cutting means to project therethrough, and springs for holding the plates away from each other, said plates being moved toward each other during movement of said platens toward said sealing and cutting means to thereby firmly clamp the folded ends of the web during cutting and sealing.

6. An apparatus for making handle bags associated with a bag machine having means for counting the number of bag machine cycles to produce counted bag stacks and said counting means operative to interrupt bag machine operation for at least one bag making cycle at the end of the count; said handle bag making apparatus comprising opposed platens reciprocable toward each other for making line seals and cut-outs in the folded edges of a thermoplastic web; stationary seal bars and a cutting die located between said platens; means mounting said seal bars and cutting die for pivotal movement away from the path of the web; and means, responsive to interruption of bag machine operation for at least one bag making cycle, for pivoting said seal bars and cutting die away from the web path.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for preventing reciprocable movement of said platens during an interrupt cycle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for disposing of the cut-out web portion.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for preventing reciprocation comprises a fluid operated cylinder.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6 comprising a vacuum system for removing the cut-out portions of the web as they are produced.

11. A method for making a thermoplastic handle bag comprising the steps of folding the ends of a web, which is folded along its longitudinal median, to produce a band of at least two web layers; and concurrently forming line seals and hand-receiving cut-outs in opposed longitudinal portions of the band. 

1. An apparatus for making handle bags from a thermoplastic web which is folded along its longitudinal median so that the margins of the web are even, said apparatus comprising means for folding each of the web margins to produce a lip having at least two web layers, and means for simultaneously making aligned cut-outs and a plurality of line seals in each lip, said seals running longitudinally of the cut-outs and straddling the cut-outs, and means for transversely severing and sealing the web to complete the bag.
 1. An apparatus for making handle bags from a thermoplastic web which is folded along its longitudinal median so that the margins of the web are even, said apparatus comprising means for folding each of the web margins to produce a lip having at least two web layers, and means for simultaneously making aligned cut-outs and a plurality of line seals in each lip, said seals running longitudinally of the cut-outs and straddling the cut-outs, and means for transversely severing and sealing the web to complete the bag.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for making the cut-outs and line seals comprises platens reciprocable toward and away from each other, means directly actuating one of the platens for reciprocation, and means responsive to the reciprocation of said one platen for reciprocating the other platen.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for reciprocating said other platen comprises centrally pivotally mounted rocker arms, a slidably mounted plunger connected to said one platen, a slidably mounted plunger connected to said other platen, and means on said plungers engageable with said rocker arms to cause rocking of said arms when said plunger of said one platen is reciprocated which causes concurrent oppositely directed reciprocation of said plunger of said other platen.
 4. An apparatus for simultaneously making hand-receiving cut-outs and line seals in a web folded along its longitudinal median and having each of its ends folded to produce a multi-layered band; said apparatus comprising means for laterally separating and supporting longitudinal portions of said bands; stationary sealing and cutting means located between said separating and supporting means; platens, mounted for reciprocation toward and away from each other, for firmly pressing the separated bands in contact with said sealing and cutting means to make reinforcing line seals and the hand-receiving cut-outs in each of the separated bands.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said separating means comprises generally rectangular plates, said plates being mounted for limited movement toward and away from each other, slots in said plates providing clearance openings for said sealing and cutting means to project therethrough, and springs for holding the plates away from each other, said plates being moved toward each other during movement of said platens toward said sealing and cutting means to thereby firmly clamp the folded ends of the web during cutting and sealing.
 6. An apparatus for making handle bags associated with a bag machine having means for counting the number of bag machine cycles to produce counted bag stacks and said counting means operative to interrupt bag machine operation for at least one bag making cycle at the end of the count; said handle bag making apparatus comprising opposed platens reciprocable toward each other for making line seals and cut-outs in the folded edges of a thermoplastic web; stationary seal bars and a cutting die located between said platens; means mounting said seal bars and cutting die for pivotal movement away from the path of the web; and means, responsive to interruption of bag machine operation for at least one bag making cycle, for pivoting said seal bars and cutting die away from the web path.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for preventing reciprocable movement of said platens during an interrupt cycle.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for disposing of the cut-out web portion.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for preventing reciprocation comprises a fluid operated cylinder.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 6 comprising a vacuum system for removing thE cut-out portions of the web as they are produced. 